Arsenal have been linked with plenty of big names this summer but the player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is most looking forward to lining up alongside next season is already at the club.

As speculation continues over whether Gonzalo Higuain, Luis Suarez or Julio Cesar will join, it is the sight of a fit Jack Wilshere that has given Oxlade-Chamberlain greatest cause for optimism.

Since Oxlade-Chamberlain signed from Southampton in August 2011, Wilshere (below) has spent most of that time in the treatment room due to an ankle injury.

He returned to action after 17 months on the sidelines last October, only for his campaign to end prematurely again with another ankle operation.

The England international only started 20 Premier League games and yet Arsenal still secured another top-four finish.

But as Arsenal left for their pre-season tour of Asia today, Oxlade-Chamberlain feels Wilshere is stronger than ever and ready to help them challenge for the title. He told Standard Sport: “Jack is back in training and looking really good. He is obviously coming away with us on tour today and the fact he is looking so strong is good news for Arsenal and England.

“Hopefully, he can stay fit because he is an amazing player and can add a lot to our team. Is he the best kind of signing we can make? Yes.

“Everyone is important. Whenever you lose someone it dents the team in some way. If we can keep him fit, it will give us a lot more options and enhances competition for places.

“One thing I have realised as he’s gone through this, he is a much stronger character on and off the pitch. He has learned from it and has become a better man for it. He does a lot of stuff now to prevent these things from happening.

“He works really hard and is the first one in and last one out of training. To come through something like that, having not been able to play for 17 months and always stay positive, is really mentally challenging but he did that really well. Last season he had a good stint in the team and now he is pushing on again.”

Oxlade-Chamberlain also wants to make more progress next term, albeit for different reasons.

The 19-year-old found his second campaign in north London tougher than the first as he continued to be a fringe member of the squad.

While the attacking midfielder’s talent is obvious, manager Arsene Wenger is not rushing his development. Theo Walcott, who made the move from Southampton five years earlier, went through the same thing before establishing himself in the first team and his presence in the dressing room is a source of comfort.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was speaking at the launch of Arsenal’s new away kit, added: “Theo is five years older than me and a lot more experienced.

“I can relate even more to him because he came from the same club in Southampton. He also moved to a big club at an early age and broke into the England squad early, too. In a sense I’m doing a lot of what he did a few years ago.

“I’m sure Theo has had some tough times in his career but one thing he is really good at is just getting on with the job and focusing on the next opportunity to put that right.

“I had a few frustrating moments last season and some tough times but I can look at how Theo has dealt, and continues to deal, with things like that and it really helps me.”

Despite the tough times, Oxlade-Chamberlain had some stand-out moments too, most notably his superb goal against Brazil last month to help England draw 2-2 in the Maracana. With the possibility of returning to Brazil for the World Cup next year, Oxlade-Chamberlain is aware how special the next 12 months could be.

He said: “This could be the most exciting season in my life. The first year at Arsenal was a bit of a whirlwind for me. Last season was the one where I have really settled in and found my bearings, living in London and things like that. I am just really looking forward to Arsenal and England now.

“Scoring against Brazil was a special achievement but I want to use that experience and the feeling of positive energy from playing in the Maracana to drive me on to do more.

“Something like this can be the start of something and shows people what I’m capable of it, but I need to do it more regularly.”

The new Arsenal and Nike 2013/14 away kit is available to pre-order now from www.arsenaldirect.com, and will be available in stores from Thursday, August 1. To mark the launch, a giant banner of the Gunners’ young British players sporting the new yellow and blue kit has been unveiled on the side of Emirates Stadium.